AN ACT relating to stray equines.
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 259 to define "local government" and "stray equine"; amend KRS 259.110 to specify when a stray equine may be taken up and posted; amend KRS 259.120 to remove some restrictions on when a stray equine may be taken up; remove the fee to be paid to the justice of the peace for posting the stray; require the record of the posting to be displayed in the sheriff's office instead of on the courthouse door; remove the requirement that a record of the posting be published pursuant to KRS Chapter 424; remove the distinction between strays younger than 2 years old and older than 2 years old; allow the taker-up to recover the actual costs incurred for keeping the stray equine and having it gelded from the true owner; amend KRS 259.130 to apply only to stray equines; shorten the period for absolute title to the stray equine to vest in the taker-up from 2 years to 90 days; remove reference to stray cattle; amend KRS 259.140 to allow the taker-up to sell the stray equine; allow the true owner to claim the proceeds from the sale less the costs for keeping the stray; provide civil and criminal immunity for local government employees acting in good faith in discharging their duties under the Act; amend KRS 259.990 to remove penalties that no longer apply to certain sections of the chapter; repeal KRS 259.150, 259.160, 259.170, 259.180, and 259.190.

HFA (1, D. Butler) - Add a definition for "stray cattle"; allow stray cattle to be taken up and posted by a landowner or long-term tenant when found on his place of residence; reinstate the posting process for cattle whereby the taker-up swears an oath to the justice of the peace that the cattle were taken up as strays on his property within the last 10 days and that he has not altered the marks or brands of the cattle; require posting of the stray cattle certificate issued by the justice of the peace in the local sheriff's office; allow the taker-up to recover the actual costs of keeping the cattle from the true owner; reinstate the provision for the vesting of ownership of the cattle in the taker-up after 12 months; require the taker-up to pay the true owner the value of the cattle less the expenses incurred in keeping them if the taker-up sells the cattle before true ownership in the cattle has vested in him; provide for civil and criminal immunity for local government officials acting in good faith in the discharge of their duties for posting stray cattle.